Things are changing. "The last few years have seen an increase in government legislation aimed at minimizing environmental impacts through product design and disposal. Important legislative developments include:
Basel Convention: an international convention adopted in 1989, banning the export of hazardous waste to non-OECD countries from EU countries. Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE): a European directive adopted in 2002 imposing financial responsibility for recycling and final disposal of electrical goods onto producers. The directive is also applicable to imported goods.
(ROHS): a European directive adopted in 2002 banning the use of lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls or polybrominated dipyenyl ethers in electrical equipment from 1st July 2006. Primarily designed to reduce environmental and health impacts of disposal, this legislation will also help to reduce occupational exposure to hazardous substances in factories.
EC Draft Directive for Energy Using Products (EUP): This is designed to reduce the impacts on the environment associated with the production, use and disposal of energy using equipment. Products have to be evaluated against certain environmental standards prior to coming onto the EU market.
Television sets and white goods must now be between 50% and 60% recyclable.
California: The SB 20 Bill requires companies to charge an upfront fee for recycling. This legislation is being challenged on the grounds that it does not advance the concept of producers' responsibility. However, it may serve as a precedent for further US State and Federal legislation." (From "The ICT sector: The Management of Social and Environmental Issues in Supply and Disposal Chains" - January 2004 - ISIS Asset Management plc)
"An increasing number of state and local governments are considering options for managing end-of-life electronic equipment such as televisions and personal computers. Their concern centers around the continued growth of this waste stream, the potential for hazardous constituents in these products to cause disposal problems, and the desire to recover valuable materials from these products. According to Raymond Communications, more than two dozen e-waste bills are under consideration by state legislatures."
"Not meeting these requirements will be costly for companies and also tarnish their reputation as they come under increasing public scrutiny." (ISIS)
The Electronic Waste Recycling Act (SB 20/50), California, United State
Effective Date: Jan. 1, 2007
SB 20/50 consists of two major elements: recycling and restricted substances. The recycling element is already in effect and requires retailers to collect, in advance, recycling fees from consumers at the point of sale for electronic devices covered under the act. The restricted substance requirements are limited to the four heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium) restricted under the EU RoHS Directive. SB 20/50 currently applies only to video display devices with screens measuring larger than four inches diagonally, but it is expected to expand in scope to cover the same products affected by the EU RoHS regulation. Products covered by SB 20/50 that are prohibited for sale in the EU under the RoHS Directive cannot be sold in California. SB 20/50 applies to retail products only, not business-to-business products. Also, the implementation date for the expanded provisions may be postponed until 2010.
Article 11 (China RoHS), China
Effective Date: March 1, 2007
China's directive requires manufacturers to restrict the use of the same substances targeted by the EU RoHS directive in certain electronic information products. Unlike the EU directive, which primarily applies to producers, China RoHS will affect everyone in the supply chain: manufacturers, distributors, importers and retailers. Additionally, China RoHS currently requires products to be tested by an accredited laboratory in China before they are allowed entry into the market. Products that fall under the scope of Article 11 will be listed in a catalog.
Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (Reach), European Union
Effective date: spring 2007
Under this regulation, manufacturers and importers of chemicals that exceed specified amounts will be required to gather information on the use of their substances and register the information in a central database to demonstrate their safe use. Reach is expected to gather information on approximately 30,000 chemicals over the next 11 years. The European Chemicals Agency will publicly post toxicity data on all covered substances. Failure to register information will mean the chemical cannot be manufactured in or imported to the EU market.
The Act for Resource Recycling of Electrical/Electric Products and Automobiles (Korea RoHS), South Korea
Effective date: July 1, 2007
This directive promotes recycling and restricts the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products and automobiles. Korea RoHS will require producers to mark products based on hazardous material content to improve recycling efficiency. Manufacturers will be responsible for collecting and managing the material composition data that declares their compliance to the law. Manufacturers will also be required to show this information to authorized government officials on demand.
Directive 2005/32/EC on the Eco-Design of Energy-Using Products (EuP), European Union
Effective date: Aug. 11, 2007
EuP encourages manufacturers to produce products that require less energy throughout their entire life cycles, including the resources consumed during manufacturing, packaging, distribution, use, and disposal. EuP is also designed to provide customers with an "ecological profile" of electronic products. EuP targets products that offer "a high potential for cost-effective reduction of greenhouse gases," including consumer electronics, heating products, and external power supplies. Products covered by the directive must undergo a conformity assessment in which manufacturers supply technical documentation to support a declaration of conformity. Manufacturers may complete this assessment either through internal design controls or within a management system. After completing the conformity assessment, manufacturers must affix the CE Conformity Mark on their products. As a "framework" directive, EuP currently places no legal obligations on manufacturers, but EU member states may adopt mandatory rules in 2007.
Japan Green Procurement Survey Standardization Initiative (JGPSSI), Japan
Effective date: voluntary
Focusing on "green procurement" of environmentally friendly parts and materials, this voluntary initiative standardizes how suppliers report the chemical content of their components to manufacturers. The ultimate goal is to reduce the presence of certain chemicals in end products by encouraging manufacturers to identify and work with suppliers that meet green procurement guidelines. The JGPSSI's "Guidelines for Standardization of Material Declaration" specifies a survey list of 24 chemicals that must be controlled in suppliers' products as well as a set of survey response formats for reporting this information. The JGPSSI is collaborating with industry groups in the United States and the EU to promote international standardization of survey lists and response formats.
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